Adding a Microsoft Account - Dev Eye for Azure Client VMs

Azure Client VMs are an awesomely cool way to have a Windows 8.1 client in the cloud for development efforts. Assumedly you've setup your Azure Client VM and created a developer account to run under. (If you haven't see the resource links at the end of this post). But once you've got a dev account running in Azure, how do you associated a Windows Store account for your dev environment.

By associating in a Microsoft account with your DEVACCOUNT in your Client VM, a number of new capabilities will come your way. Once a Microsoft account is associated you are now "cloud enabled". At the very least, you'll be able to use OneDrive to host a shared file environment for both accounts you can use to transfer files in and out of your Client VM. You'll also be able to use Roaming Storage in your application. Roaming storage allows you to write settings into a special area of your application which is shared across all instance of an application running under that Microsoft account.

Let's look at how to setup a Microsoft Account for your Azure Client VM

Open the Azure Portal and navigate to your VM Make sure your Azure Client VM is started Click CONNECT

Use your YourVMName\DEVACCOUNT to sign in, aka devfishw8vm02\MAZER….

While in the VM bring up the Charms menu (WindowsKey+C) Navigate the following menu options: Settings -> Change PC Settings -> Accounts

Click Connect with your Microsoft Account Sign in with your current password Sign in with the Microsoft account and work through the pasword dialogs

Your are now signed in with your Microsoft account

And you can see how mazer.rackham@outlook.com is now our primary account for this Windows 8.1 instance.